What about Bob?

In the wake of last weekend's trade between the Patriots and Chiefs that sent New England quarterback Matt Cassel and linebacker Mike Vrabel to Kansas City for a second round (34th overall) draft pick, we have this postscript:

Much was made of the fact that the Patriots settled for a seemingly low pick, especially after word leaked out that the Buccaneers, Broncos and Lions were prepared to do a three-way ... (trade, you perverts!).

But the Bucs, Lions and Broncos only got into the fray after the Patriots and Chiefs had agreed on the deal and the paperwork had been submitted to the NFL. Sure, New England could theoretically have backed off, but there were no assurances that a three-way deal could have been consummated, even with a first-round pick and Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler.

Remember, too, that all four teams involved in the deal - Denver, Tampa, Detroit and Kansas City - have first-year coaches AND new general managers. Bill Belichick has been around the block long enough to know that these things can get complicated and ultimately fall apart. So he decided he'd go with the first-year general manager he knows better than the rest: Scott Pioli.

There's no way Pioli would part with the third overall pick for a quarterback with just 15 NFL starts. And Belichick apparently had very little interest in picking so high, because of the massive financial commitment involved. In the end, he settled for a second-round pick in exchange for a former seventh-round quarterback and a 33-year-old linebacker.

It's not a terrible deal, especially if Belichick parlays it into a draft-day move that nets the Patriots some quality young players at a much cheaper price.